Convertible power machine unit



. March 28,1939. J. F. CAREY CONVERTIBLE POWER MACHINE UNIT Filed April 21, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet March 28, 1939. J. CAREY 2,151,688

CONVERTIBLE POWER MACHINE UNIT Filed April 21, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,151,688 CONVERTIBLE POWER MACHINE UNIT John F. Carey, Oklahoma City, Okla.

Application April 21, 1937, Serial No. 138,250

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a convertible power machine unit, and one object of the invention is to provide an apparatus so constructed that it may be easily converted for use either as a horizontally extending machine or as a vertically disposed machine, an inverted vertically extending machine or a machine extending at an incline between the vertical position and a horizontal position. An example of the first-mentioned use is a lathe and an example of the second use being its use as a power drill. An example of the third use is a vertical shaper and an example of the last-mentioned use is a tilting arbor saw.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character including a shaft having supporting legs so mounted that they may be spaced longitudinally of the shaft to support the shaft in a horizontal position or arranged about the shaft in position to support the shaft in either a vertical position, an inverted vertical position,. or any desired angle. It will thus be seen that the frame supporting legs may be employed for supporting the shaft and members carried thereby in either a horizontal position, a vertical position or any angle desired between a vertical position and a horizontal position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character so constructed that it may take the place of a lathe, a drill press, and other machines usually provided in a well equipped machine shop; It will thus be seen that the single machine will take the place of a number of machines, thereby saving a great deal of space in a shop and also reducing the expense of properly equipping the shop.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is of simple construction and capable of being very easily converted for use as a predetermined machine.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing the improved convertible power machine unit in position for use as a horizontal lathe,

Figure 2 is a side elevation showing the machine disposed vertically for use as a power drill,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view upon an enlarged scale taken transversely through the shaft upon the line 3-3 of Figure 2, and

- Figure 4 is a sectional view taken transversely through the shaft upon the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

The shaft I of this improved convertible power machine unit is formed of steel or other strong metal and may be either solid or hollow. It may be of any length and diameter desired and is preferably circular in cross section in order that turning adjustment may be imparted. to the shaft or members carried thereby when in either the horizontal position shown in Figure 1 or the vertical position shown in Figure 2. In order to support the shaft in either of its positions of adjustment, there have been provided legs 2 and 3 each of which extends diagonally for the major portion of its height but has a vertically extending upper end portion. By having each leg extend diagonally for the major portion of its length, the legs will extend in diverging relation to each other, as clearly shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, and thus provide a good support for the shaft. While legs have been shown as the means for supporting the shaft, it is to be understood that other means may be substituted if so desired. Blocks 4 and 5 which may be referred to as fixtures fit about the shaft and are adjustable longitudinally of the shaft and also circumferentially thereof. The block or fixture 4 is formed of strong metal and consists of a body 6 which is substantially of a tubular formation in order that it receive the shaft I. A plate or table 1 is formed integral with the tubular body 6, and upon referring to Figure 4, it will be seen that this table projects from opposite sides of the body. By so forming the table, it may be used as a support for holding the frame of a table saw, joiner, grinder, sh'aper or any other tool in proper position to have a rotary cutter or equivalent member operatively connected with a spindle hereinafter referred to. It will thus be seen that by applying the proper attachment the device becomes any desired power tool, necessitating only one frame, motor and spindle, plus the cutter and attachments desired. Shoulders 8 are formed at opposite sides of the body midway the length thereof and these shoulders have portions which project downwardly or outwardly from the body and are drilled to form a passage 9 through which a bolt Ill passes. From an inspection of Figure 4, it will be readily understood that, when the nuts ll of this bolt are tightened, the shoulders will be drawn toward each other and the body which is slit longitudinally, as shown at l2, contracted about the shaft. Therefore, the shaft will be firmly gripped and securely but releasably held in place. The bolt It not only serves as means for contracting the block about the shaft but also as means for securing the two legs at opposite sides of the block and, when the machine screws l3 are passed through upper ends of the legs and screwed tightly into the socket It, the legs will be very firmly held in place. When the shaft is swung to an inverted vertical position, the legs 2 and 3 will all be secured to the shoulders 8 of the block 4.

The block 5 is also formed of strong metal and is of substantially rectangular formation, as shown in Figure 3. A bore i4 is formed through the block to receive the shaft and between the ears I5 the block is slit, as shown at |'6,in order that it may expand and contract. A bolt I! passes through the ears and when its nut I8 is tightened the block will be contracted about the shaft and firmly held in place thereon. Sockets l9 which are threaded are formed in the block to receive machine screws 20, by means of which upper ends of the legs 3 are held in engagement with the block. In spaced relation to the sockets I9, there have been formed other sockets 2! to receive the bolt l2. It will thus be seen that the leg 2 may be removed from the block 4 and transferred to the block 5. The legs will then all be carried by the block 5 and they may support the column or shaft l in the vertical position, shown in Figure 2. The fact that the legs are formed of angle metal provide each leg with flanges extending transversely of each other for bearing against side and end faces of the block 5, as shown in Figure 3, and prevent movement of the legs out of the proper position to support the shaft in the upright position. When the legs are applied as shown in Figure l, the flanges cause the legs 2 to have engagement with side and end faces of the cylinders 8 and permit the legs 3 to bear against side and end faces of the block 5. It is desired to permit the shaft to be swung from the horizontal position to the vertical or from the vertical position to the horizontal position without disconnecting the legs 3 from the block 5, and, therefore, a corner portion of the block has been rounded, as shown at 22. This will permit the legs 3 and the block to have turning movement relative to each other in a direction allowing the shaft to be swung upwardly from the lefthand end of Figure 1 from the horizontal position shown therein to the vertical position shown in Figure 2, but when the shaft is in the vertical position and the legs 2 secured to the block 5, the shaft will be maintained in the vertical position.

The head stock 23 is of the type used upon lathes and is formed with a base 24 to which an electric motor 25 is secured by bolts 26. Adjacent the base 24 the head stock is formed with a sleeve 21' through which the shaft passes, and in order to firmly but detachably hold the head stock in place, there has been provided a set screw 28 engaged through a threaded opening formed at one side of the sleeve. Another set screw may be provided at the opposite side of the sleeve if so desired. The spindle 29 is journaled through the sleeve or elongated bearing 30 extending transversely of the head stock and one end portion of this spindle projects from the head stock and carries a pulley 3| for engagement by a belt 32 which is also trained about a pulley 33 carried by the shaft of the motor. It will thus be seen that rotary motion can be transmitted from the motor to the spindle. The spindle may carry a chuck in order that a block of wood or the like which is to be out and shaped may be firmly held to turn with the spindle or a disk may be connected with the spindle for operating a saw or the like and permit a block of wood or board placed upon the table I of the block 4 to be worked upon. There has also been provided a tail stock 34 having a split sleeve 35 for engaging about the shaft and a securing bolt 36 is engaged through ears of the split sleeve in order that the tail stock may be firmly secured in a set position upon the shaft. When the shaft is supported in the upright position to permit use of the device as a vertical drill, the tail stock is removed and in its place is substituted a table 3'! which may be of dimensions desired and is formed with a sleeve 38 which fits about the shaft and firmly grips the same when the bolt 39 is tightened; In some instances, it is desirable to have the spindle 29 disposed at an incline instead of in the horizontal position shown in Figure l or the vertical position shown in Figure 2. When such is the case, the shaft may be swung to the desired angularly adjusted position and the legs 2 turned about the bolt H) to such a position that they will rest upon the fioor and support the shaft in the adjusted position. If found necessary, the bolt I!) may be passed through the openings through which the bolts l 3 ordinarily extend. It is to be understood that numerous tools and attachments which can be operated from a rotary spindle 29 may be selectively used and also that changes in detail of construction may be made in the blocks 4 and 5 in accordance with the scope of the claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a convertible power machine unit, a shaft, fixtures fitting about said shaft and adjustable along the shaft and oircumferentially thereof, and supports secured at their upper ends to said fixtures for supporting the fixtures with the shaft in a horizontal position, the supports secured to one fixture being detachable therefrom and transferable to the other fixture for cooperating with the sup-ports secured to the second fixture and supporting the shaft in a vertical position.

2. In a convertible power machine unit, a shaft, a headstock carried by the rear end portion of said shaft, front and rear fixtures fitting about said shaft in spaced relation to each other longitudinally thereof, front and rear supporting legs formed of angle metal, and fasteners passing through said supporting legs and into side faces of said fixtures to pivotally connect the front legs with front corner portions of the front fixture and detachably connect the rear legs with the rear fixture, the rear legs being transferable from the said rear fixture to the rear corner portions of the front fixture for supporting the shaft in a vertical position and when applied to the front fixture having engagement with the front legs to prevent pivotal movement of the front legs.

3. In a convertible power machine unit, a shaft, a head stock carried by the rear end portion of said shaft, front and rear fixtures carried by said shaft, front and rear legs detachably connected with the front fixture for supporting the shaft in a vertical position, the rear fixture having side shoulders adapted to have the rear legs secured theretowhen the rear legs are removed from the front fixture and support the shaft in a horizontal position, and means for securing the fixture tightly about the shaft and maintaining the fixtures in adjusted positions upon the shaft.

4. In a convertible power machine unit, a shaft, a head stock carried by the rear end portion of said shaft, front and rear fixtures carried by said shaft in spaced relation to each other longitudinally of the shaft, supporting legs detachably carried by said fixtures for selectively supporting the shaft in a horizontal position, the front legs being pivotally connected with the front fixture whereby said shaft may be swung from the horizontal position to a vertical position and the rear legs being transferable from the rearfixture to the front fixture for cooperating with the front legs to support the shaft in the vertical position, and a member for cooperating with the head stockcarried by said shaft between the fixtures and adjustable longitudinally and circumferentially of the shaft.

" JOHN F. CAREY. 

